All articles tagged with #seizures
An infant in North Wales, Rupert Smith, has alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare incurable neurological disorder causing unpredictable paralysis and seizures; in the last 48 hours he endured about 12 seizures, with teething cited as a trigger. He requires continuous multidisciplinary care, and his parents have raised over $350,000 to pursue potential treatments in the U.S. and to fund research for a cure.
A Danish study of nearly 50,000 adults with a first-time seizure (average age ~50) found an association with a higher short-term risk of brain cancer within a year, and also an increased risk of non-neurological cancers, underscoring that a first seizure warrants urgent medical evaluation since tumors can provoke seizures even before other symptoms.
A study of nearly 49,900 Danish adults around age 50 found that a first-time seizure in adulthood is linked to a higher short-term risk of cancer within a year, including brain cancer, and a possible increased long-term risk for other cancers such as lung cancer; seizures don’t always mean cancer, but a first seizure should prompt urgent evaluation to check for underlying disease.
A 54-year-old British mother, Kerry Brown, mistook episodes of tingling, fatigue and hot flashes for menopause until an MRI revealed multiple brain tumors. Doctors initially found four tumors, but surgery uncovered a total of 10, with five removed. Brown subsequently faced seizures and partial blindness from optic nerve pressure, and two tumors have begun to grow again, necessitating radiation; she’s now sharing her story to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research.
A New York City actress misinterpreted recurring seizures as panic attacks for years until doctors diagnosed focal impaired awareness seizures. After SEEG pinpointed the seizure origin, she received a NeuroPace brain implant in 2018–2019; by July 2019 her seizures were gone, allowing her to return to work, and she has remained seizure-free since, though she continues daily meds and will need periodic battery replacements for the device.
New Mayo Clinic findings indicate the brain may hijack memory-consolidation processes after a seizure, with nights of intensified deep (NREM) sleep and reduced REM sleep that strengthen seizure networks and potentially worsen epilepsy. This post-seizure consolidation could explain disease progression and points to a critical window for targeted neuromodulation therapies to disrupt the reinforced networks, an approach being explored by Mayo’s BIONIC initiative.
After surviving an avalanche that caused hypoxia, a 25-year-old German man later developed rhythmic jerks in his left arm specifically while solving Sudoku. EEG showed a right centroparietal seizure pattern; MRI was normal, but functional MRI revealed widespread brain activation with fewer inhibitory fibers in the centroparietal region, linking the hypoxia‑induced brain damage to reflex seizures triggered by visual‑spatial tasks. He was treated with anti‑epileptic medication and rehab, and remained seizure‑free for years, even giving up solving Sudoku.
Venezuela's National Assembly approved a law criminalizing activities like oil tanker seizures, following US actions against Venezuelan ships to pressure Maduro amid ongoing sanctions and political tensions, with the bill now awaiting Maduro's signature.
Rapport Therapeutics' experimental drug RAP-219 significantly reduced seizures in hard-to-treat epilepsy patients, leading to a 119.2% surge in its stock price, with the drug showing promising results and mild side effects.
Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, died at 48 from malignant melanoma, with seizures listed as a significant contributing condition on his death certificate. No autopsy was performed, and he was cremated. His death followed a long battle with skin cancer, and he was also noted as a rodeo producer at the time of his passing.
Brandon Blackstock died at age 48 from melanoma after a prolonged battle, with seizures playing a significant role in his death, as revealed by his death certificate. No autopsy was performed, and he was cremated. His ex-wife Kelly Clarkson postponed her Las Vegas residency to be with their children during his illness.
A large study reveals that epileptic seizures are more common in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients than previously thought, often occurring up to 10 years before diagnosis, suggesting that early detection of seizures could improve FTD diagnosis and management.
Debbie McCrudden, diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014, overcame her fears of seizures to have two children, despite the challenges posed by her condition. Her seizures decreased during her first pregnancy but increased during her second, requiring significant support from her family. After changing her medication post-pregnancy, her epilepsy is now under control, allowing her to care for her children independently. Debbie emphasizes the importance of not letting fear dictate life decisions, despite the ongoing anxiety about potential seizures.
Twelve-year-old Owen Jacobsen, who suffered from frequent seizures due to a brain tumor, has found relief following a successful neurosurgery using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. The minimally invasive procedure, performed by Dr. Robert Bollo, has left Owen seizure-free since September 2023, allowing him to return to his normal activities and thrive. The hospital is recognized for its excellence in neurology and neurosurgery outcomes.
The World Health Organization faced criticism for claiming that vaping can cause seizures within 24 hours, with fact-checkers and experts questioning the evidence behind the assertion. While a recent study linked vaping to health effects like asthma and pneumonia, the connection between vaping and seizures remains inconclusive. Vaping has been promoted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but concerns about its appeal to young people and potential health risks persist.